Punch card



United States Patent @dice 3,307,022 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,307,022 PUNCH CARD i p Ernest A. Dahl, Jr., 729 Greenwood Ave., wnmette, nl. 60091 Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 288,047 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S-61.12)

The present invention pertains generally to control -mem'bersfor -business machines andrelatesmore specifically to an improved machine card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval and operatively usable in card punching machines. t

Business machines for handling information coded on cards may be broadly classified according to function as punching machines, sorting machines and tabulating machines. This invention primarily is connected with machines of the first category, punching machines, and is concerned with an improved punch card cooperable with such machines. y

It is desirable when a particular punch card is used repetitiously to pro-vide means whereby such card may be readily retrieved from its fire for feeding into the machine. In my co-pending application Serial No. 179,- 020, led March 12, 1962, now abandoned, I described a laminous card of uniform thickness having magnetic means to facilitate a visual survey and manual handling of such card. In the prior application there is described a card including a spaced pair of magnetically susceptible metal elements disposed at opposite edgesthereof. Such cards are adapted to `be filed in groups `within a specially equipped file structure having permanent magnetic means forspreading the cards. The principle of this arrangement consists in that by means of two permanent magnets, one disposed on either side of the file, there are formed magnetic fields in `which the lines of force extend substantially in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction of the cards disposed within such file. The lines of force act on the end portion of the magnetically susceptible elements disposed on each card, such elements being formed preferably of thin, soft iron sheet. Due to the mutual magnetic repulsion of the magnetic elements in the adjacent cards, a fan-like spreading of the cards will occur within a V-shaped opening which may be produced, for example, with the hand in any desired place within the stack `of cards disposed Within the card file.

Should it be desired the card file referred to above may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the patent to Ernest A. Dahl, Sr., No. 2,954,032 issued September 27, 1960.

It is contemplated that the cards of this invention be cooperable in a useful fashion with a card punching machine, and it is to be understood that these cards contain adjacent opposite edges thereof metal elements provided for magnetically assisted filing. When the cards containing the metal elements are passed through the punch card machine for punching message holes through the card, steps must be taken to preclude the introduction of metal chips into the punch card machine for the reasons that such metal chips could be carried along with the card or could adhere to certain mechanisms within the punch machine or the punches themselves whereby operation of such machine cr subsequent machines would be -eleteriously affected. This is understandable for after the cards are punched they may be passed through a card sorting machine, card reader or tabuiator wherein control is effected by electrical circuits established by contacts through the holes made by the punch machine. If a metal punching should adhere to the card or be carried into the reading machine, a misreading of information on the card could result, or there could be caused a card feed jam in the reading mechanism. Also to be avoided is dulling or damage to the punches of the card punch machine through contact with metal in the cards.

An important Object of this invention is to provide an improved punch card including metal portions to aid filing, the card being adapted for use in a card punching machine and so constructed that when used with such machine the likehood of metal chips or punching accumulating in such machine is so minimized as to be remote.

Another object of the invention is to provide a punch card of the class described having two discrete metal containing areas wherein all message retaining locations are pre-punched so that when the card user for the first time processes the card in a card punch machine, the punch mechanisms will pass freely through such areas.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved card of the class described wherein the two metal elements of the card are pre-punched at all possible channel locations where information holes are likely to be punched in the non-metallic portions of the card in the area of the metal elements, thereby leaving the complete area of the card for information reception.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a -punchl card of the type described which is simple and economical to manufacture, highly effective in use with card unch machines and adapted for magnetically assisted ling,

Further features of the present invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the punch card whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with further objects and advantages, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a punch card embodying a first form of the present invention;

FG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary exploded View of the upper left hand portion of the punch card of FIG. 1;

PEG. 3 is a still further enlarged sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3 3 in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a view in the scale of FIG. l showing a second form of punch card embodying the features of the pres-ent invention;

FIG. 5 is ia greatly enlarged, fragmentary exploded view of the upper left hand portion of the punch card of FG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is Ia still further enlarged sectional view taken.

in the direction of the arrows :along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4.

rThere is shown in FGS. 1 3 a first form of punch card made in accord-ance and embodying the principles of the present invention, the punch card therein being designated generally by the numeral 1t). Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the punch card 10 comprises a rst outer layer 12 and -a second outer layer 14 having therebetween two rectangularly shaped metal elements 16.

The first 12 and second 14 layers are composed of sheet material, preferably paper-like card stock, and being adhesively superimposed upon each other define the elongated rectangular outline of the card 1t). This shape of card is generally fed into a business machine narrow end first whereby a pinwheel drive mechanism (not shown) engages the card 1f) at a row 18 of 'aligned holes 20. shown adjacent to each long edge of the card 10, and in this manner the card is passed through the machine. It is to be understood that between the llong edges of the card 1i) there exists a substantial tarea into which mesa sage holes may be punched by a card punch machine for storing information on the card 1t) and is convenient to described the message receiving area of the card 10 as a field Each metal insert 16 is disposed adjacent to one edge of the card 1t), in this embodiment being shown proximate the upper end of the card 10 as viewed in FIGS. l and '2. Each element i6 is composed of thin (.601 inch to .0025 inch for example), magnetically susceptible piece of soft iron which is designed to be sandwiched between the layers 12 and 1d, each elements 15 being substantially in lateral alignment with the other element on the card. The elements i6 extend flush with the edge of the card 1t) and project inwardly therefrom a substantial distance into the previously defined tieldf Thus,

ach metal element 16 has a not insubstantial area projecting into the field.

Referring particularly to FIG. l, a group of message holes 22 are shown in the field of card 10 inwardly of the right hand row 18. The holes 22 are arranged in channels which extend longitudinally of the card, each channel being laterally spaced from the adjacent one.

To preclude small metal particles from falling into the punch machine as the card it) is passed therethrough for the first itme, the card 1t) throughout the area of each metall element 16 is pre-punched as at 24 in rows or channel locations corresponding to the designed spaced locations of the message holes 22. Thus, the layers 12, 14 as well as the metal elements 16, as shown in FIG. 3, are pre-punched throughout the contiguous areas thereof before the card it? is furnished to the card user. Further, the row of apertures Ztl is pre-punched including the portion of the row 18 which extends across the element 16. it is to be understood that no information may be received in the area of the elements 16 being that all possible channels have been punched out in the manufacturing operation prior to the delivery of the card 10 to the userthereof.

lt has been found that this exemplification overcomes in great measure the reservations to using a metal containing card in a punch card machine. Further, this structure enables the use of a punch card with a magnetically assisted filing system which affords a reduction in time required to normally handle a file card used for a punch card program.

Being that the card layers 12, 14, and metal elements 16 can be pre-punched simultaneously with the punching of the drive holes 2t), it follows that a large number of the cards it) may be arranged in a stack and punched together thus eiiecting an economy in card production. The layers i2 and Lt, commonly of paper stock, may be bonded to one another and to the soft, iron element 16 by such adhesives as are commonly used in the field of card making.

in FHI-S. ft-6 of the drawing there is shown a second form of punch card of the present invention, the second form being designated generally by the numeral 30. Re-

erring to FIGS. and 6, the card 36 includes a rst layer 32 intimately bonded to a second layer 34 over a substantial area contiguous therewith. Sandwiched between the layers 32 and 3d at opposite edges of the card 30 is a pair of pre-punched metal elements 36 each having a plurality of aligned rows of holes therein designated 33, best shown in FGS. 4 and 5. The portions of the layers 32, 3tloverlying each element 36 are substantially imperforate except for the row 18 of aligned drive holes 2Q, best shown in FIG. 6. lt is contemplated that the second form of this invention may receive messages throughout the entire area of the card irrespective of the presence of the metal inserts 36 on each side thereof. In other respects to the card 3d is similar to the first form of the invention, the card l0.

Being that the metal element 36 of the card 30 is itself pre-punched, whereas the layers 32, 34 are imperforate except for the drive holes 20, it follows that the punching of the element 36 will be occasioned in a step prior to its insertion between the paper layers 32, 34. However, the drive holes 20 may be punched into the card 30 after the structure has been laminated together whereby the drive holes will be punched simultaneously through the layers 32, 34 and metal element 36.

The general type of card shown herein is similar to an all paper card manufactured by the Friden Calculating Machine Co., Inc., of San Leandro, California. That card is 3 inches in width and extends 7 inches between its ends and may be from .O03 to .007 inch in thickness.

From the fact that the metal elements 16 or 36 are each disposed adjacent the vertical or long edges of the respective card, the two forms of punch cards shown herein are each adaptable for flling in the vertical position. However, it is to be understood that the metal elements may be disposed along the horizontal or short edges to produce a card for horizontal lcs and wherein the function of this invention still obtains. Furthermore, although the pre-punched metal inserts 16, 36 have been shown in association with a pair of paper-like layers 12, 14, 32, 34 it is to be understood that any number of layers is contemplated and further that the pre-punched metal elements may be affixed to a single layer of punch card stock.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made herein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval, comprising: first and second layers of sheet material of generally rectangular outline and congruently arranged with a substantial area of bonded contact therebetween, said punch card having intermediate two parallel edges thereof a field adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements extending into said field, one metal element from each of said parallel edges, each metal element being sandwiched between said first and second layers and each having an array of pre-punched holes arranged to accommodate in registration therethrough punch mechanism of such card punching machine to avoid the incidence of metal punchings in such card punching machine.

2. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval, comprising: first and second layers of paper material of generally rectangular outline and congruently arranged with a substantial area of bonded contact therebetween, said punch card having intermediate two parallel edges thereof a field adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements extending into said field each metal element from one of said parallel edges, each metal element being sandwiched and bonded between said first and second layers of paper material, said card over the area of each metal element having an array of prepunched hole therethrough arranged to accommodate in registration punch mechanism of such card punching machines to avoid the incidence of magnetically susceptible metal punchings in such card punching machines.

3. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, n punch card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval, comprising: a thin flexible member of aper material having a generally rectangular outline, said punch card having intermediate two parallel edges thereof a field adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements extending into said field each metal element from one of said parallel edges, said card over the area of each metal element having an array of pre-punched holes therethrough arranged to accommodate in registration punching mechanisms of such card punching machines to avoid the incidence of magnetically susceptible metal punchings in such card punching machines.

4. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted liling and retrieval, comprising: a multi-layer laminated member of non-magnetic sheet material, said member having an elongated rectangular outline including two long edges having therebetween a field adapted to be selectively punched in such card punching machine to record information on said card; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements sandwiched between said layers, each element extending from one of said long edges into said field and being disposed substantially in transverse alignment with the other metal element, each metal element having a plurality of spaced holes arranged in rows over the entire area of said element to avoid the incidence of metal punching when said card is passed through such card punching machine to record information on said card.

5. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval, comprising: a multi-layer, laminated member of non-magnetic sheet material, said member having a rectangular outline including two parallel edges having therebetween a eld adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine to record information on said card; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements disposed adjacent one end of said card and sandwiched between said layers, each element extending from one of said parallel edges into said field and being disposed substantially in transverse alignment with the other metal element, each metal element having a plurality of spaced holes arranged in rows over the entire area of said element to avoid the incidence of metal punching when said card is passed through such card punching machine to record information on said card.

6. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted filing and retrieval, comprising: a multi-layer laminated member of non-magnetic sheet material, said member having a rectangular outline including two parallel edges having therebetween a field adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine to record information on said card; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements disposed adjacent one end of said card and sandwiched -between said layers, each element extending from one of said parallel edges into said lield and being disposed substantially in transverse alignment with the other metal element, said card over the area of each metal element having a plurality of spaced holes arranged in rows to avoid the incidence of metal punching when said card is passed through such card punching machine to record information on said card.

7. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted tiling and retrieval, comprising: a multi-layer laminated member of non-magnetic sheet material, said member having an elongated rectangular outline including two long edges having therebetween a field adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine to record information on said card; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements disposed adjacent one end of said card and sandwiched between said layers, each element extending from one of said long edges into said field and being disposed substantially in transverse alignment with the other metal element, said card having a row of evenly spaced holes arranged adjacent to one of said long edges and extending between the ends of said card and also across one of said metal elements, said card having over the area of each metal element a plurality of spaced holes arranged in rows to avoid the incidence of metal punching when said card is passed through such card punching machine to record information on said card.

8. For use in a business machine of the card punching variety, a punch card adapted for magnetically assisted tiling and retrieval, comprising: first and second layers of sheet material of generally rectangular outline and congruently arranged with a substantial area of bonded contact therebetween, said punch card having intermediate two parallel edges thereof a eld adapted to be selectively punched in a card punching machine; and two magnetically susceptible metal elements extending into said eld, one metal element from each said parallel edges, said card having a row of evenly spaced holes arranged adjacent to one of said long edges and extending between the ends of said card and also across one of said metal elements, each metal element being sandwiched between said first and second layers and each having an array of prepunched holes arranged to accommodate in lregistration therethrough punch mechanism of such card punching machine to avoid the incidence of metal punching in such card punching machine.

No references cited.

MAYNARD R. WILBUR, Primary Examiner. W. I. KOPACZ, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN A BUSINESS MACHINE OF THE CARD PUNCHING VARIETY, A PUNCH CARD ADAPTED FOR MAGNETICALLY ASSISTED FILING AND RETRIEVAL, COMPRISING: FIRST AND SECOND LAYERS OF SHEET MATERIAL OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OUTLINE AND CONGRUENTLY ARRANGED WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY AREA OF BONDED CONTACT THEREBETWEEN, SAID PUNCH CARD HAVING INTERMEDIATE TWO PARALLEL EDGES THEREOF A FIELD ADAPTED TO BE SELECTIVELY PUNCHED IN A CARD PUNCHING MACHINE; AND TWO MAGNETICALLY SUSCEPTIBLE METAL ELEMENTS EXTENDING INTO SAID FIELD, ONE METAL ELEMENT FROM EACH OF SAID PARALLEL EDGES, EACH METAL ELEMENT BEING SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND LAYERS AND EACH HAVING AN ARRAY OF PRE-PUNCHED HOLES ARRANGED TO ACCOMMODATE IN REGISTRATION THERETHROUGH PUNCH MECHANISM OF SUCH CARD PUNCHING MACHINE TO AVOID THE INCIDENCE OF METAL PUNCHINGS IN SUCH CARD PUNCHING MACHINE. 